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A2: Highways England opens consultation on planned £125m improvements

By: Ellis Stephenson

Published: 12:00, 21 February 2018

Plans for a £125m A2 upgrade have been revealed.

Highways bosses are asking drivers for their views on the proposed changes in a consultation, which opens today.

Under the plans, the Bean and Ebbsfleet junctions will both see their capacity increased.

A consultation into proposed improvements on the A2 has opened today. Picture: Highways England

This will improve journeys, boost safety and prepare the road network for the transformative growth expected in north Kent in the coming decades, according to Highways England chiefs.

Senior project manager, Brian Gash, said: "Bean and Ebbsfleet junctions serve Bluewater, Ebbsfleet International station and soon the new Garden City and these vital upgrades will help to make sure that the A2 stays fit for the future opportunities coming to Kent.

Highways England senior project manager, Brian Gash

"Demand is expected to grow by up to 200 per cent by 2027, so it is vital that the final proposals we end up taking forward for planning permission are the best we can possibly make them.

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"People’s input into the consultation will help us make sure that they are. There are important decisions still to be made about each junction, so I’d encourage anyone with an interest – drivers, residents, business owners and visitors - to get involved."

An initial consultation ran between January and March last year, before the preferred options were announced in August.

"It is important that local infrastructure is improved" - Ian Piper

Now, the public is being asked for views on the updated plans:

Chief executive of Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, Ian Piper, said: "With up to 15,000 new homes in Ebbsfleet Garden City, it is important that local infrastructure is improved to accommodate this growth.

"With our support for the proposed scheme for the two A2 junctions and a commitment from us to improve public transport in the area through a new and upgraded Fastrack service, we are investing to ensure traffic continues to flow."

An artists impression of what the changes to the eastbound carriageway might look like. Picture: Highways England

It is thought the upgraded junctions will help support 30,000 jobs and 15,000 homes.

But not everyone is happy with the plans.

If the green light is given Duncan Wood will lose his property to a Compulsory Purchase Order.

Mr Wood said: "In all probability my house will be compulsory purchased and I'll have to find somewhere else.

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"Because I'm the chairman of the residents' association we went to talk to Highways England about it to see if there was another alternative.

"The deal is they pay me the value of the house as if it wasn't going to happen, plus 10% and the moving and legal costs."

Public information events about the changes run from today with the first being held at the Heritage Community Hall, Craylands Lane, Swanscombe.

From then they will be held at the following locations:

The consultation materials will also be available to view from 2018 at the following locations, during their normal hours of opening:

Details on the plans and feedback forms are available online from today until 11:45pm Wednesday, April 4.

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